Ireland will need major inward migration of construction workers, if the industry is to achieve targets for new housing.
But a new report from the ESRI says the high cost of accommodation is acting as a deterrant for people who want to work here.
The research says the construction sector's going to need a major boost to employment numbers if housing supply is going to meet demand - and that much of the extra labour will have to come from immigrant workers.
But it warns Ireland's accommodation costs could act as a disincentive for people thinking about moving here to work in construction.
The study finds that a significant increase in housing output will require the number of construction jobs here returning to Celtic Tiger levels.
It predicts a big increase in mortgage lending as more homes come on the market.
But the ESRI says its essential that the Central Bank maintains the regulations that oversee mortgage lending - or we could see the build-up of another property bubble.
